Irish Ship Prepares To Sail In Second Gaza Flotilla

On today's anniversary of the attack by Israeli commandos on the Freedom Flotilla, an Irish Ship to Gaza spokesperson and Free Gaza Movement member has reaffirmed the commitment of Irish human rights activists to participate in a second flotilla.

Discussing the scheduled sail at the end of June, Fintan Lane said: "The most appropriate way to remember our nine colleagues who were murdered last year by Israeli commandos is to intensify the campaign to end the siege of Gaza. We will continue to sail until the blockade is lifted and Palestinians in Gaza are allowed full access to the outside world."

Irish Ship to Gaza (ISTG) is a coalition of pro-Palestine groups in Ireland that was formed last August to maximise Irish participation in 'Freedom Flotilla 2 - Stay Human', which departs for Gaza in the third week of June. At least ten ships, including the Mavi Marmara and a boat from Ireland, will take part in the flotilla. Other ships come from Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Canada, the United States, Germany/Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands. Over 1,000 people are expected to travel on the flotilla including many public figures and journalists. There will be three cargo ships in the flotilla, carrying much-needed medical supplies and construction materials, such as cement, that are banned or heavily restricted by Israel.

The purpose of the flotilla is twofold: to break the sea blockade of Gaza, thereby undermining the siege, and to bring humanitarian aid to the ordinary people of Gaza. It is a civil society to civil society action, an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people who are suffering as a result of the illegal and immoral Israeli siege.

The Irish ship, which is currently at a secure location in the Mediterranean, is a passenger vessel and will carry 25 passengers and crew, all Irish citizens. It was moved last week from its storage berth and is now being made ready for the flotilla. The ship is wholly Irish-owned and was purchased for E70,000 as a result of grassroots fundraising throughout Ireland, north and south, since the attack on last year's flotilla. The passengers include well-known former Ireland and Leinster rugby star Trevor Hogan, artist and Aosdana member Felim Egan, former Fianna Fail TD Chris Andrews, Senator Mark Daly of Fianna Fail, Aengus O Snodaigh TD of Sinn Fein, Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy, SIPTU official and Labour Party activist Mags O'Brien, and two Sinn Fein councillors: Pat Fitzgerald (Waterford County Council) and Gerry MacLochlainn (Derry City Council). Also on board will be human rights activists from Cork, Wexford, Belfast, Limerick, Dublin, Derry and Waterford.

(BMcN/GK)